When thinking of sleep apnea many associate it back to older individuals or those with underlying health issues like high blood pressure But in reality sleep apnea can occur in young adults just as frequently than older individuals especially with preexisting chronic pain conditions
First lets look at the causes and patterns of sleep apnea When the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much they do not allow for normal breathing The muscles support your mouth roof soft palate the hanging tissue from the soft palate uvula the tongue and the tonsils
When these muscles are relaxed the airway narrows as you breathe which lowers the level of oxygen in your blood causing a buildup of carbon dioxide Your brain is triggered by the impairment in breathing which rouses you from sleep The snorting choking or gasping is correcting the problem with a few deep breaths
This pattern can repeat itself five to 30 times or more each hour all night long These disruptions impair your ability to reach the desired deep restful phases of sleep and youll probably feel sleepy during your waking hours
Developed in 2008 the STOP Bang questionnaire was intended as a pre screening tool for the obstructive sleep apnea OSA surgical population However its popularity grew to include sleep clinics the general population and other special populations for those at high risk for sleep apnea
Snoring
Tiredness
Observed apnea
High blood pressure
The four demographics are BMI age neck circumference and gender BANG which help determine the probability of OSA when compared to its symptoms STOP Studies have shown the Stop BANG questionnaires effectiveness in new populations such as a lower age bracket prone to OSA
Now with younger adults pain intensity and discomfort are recommended within screenings Pain was defined in one study by general pain headaches diabetic pain hypertension and a BMI above 30 Psychiatric disorders also were common in the young adults including depression post traumatic stress and substance abuse disorder
Therefore pain management may affect ones sleep which correlates to their pain threshold and treatment or management of pain
We suggest more thorough and more frequent pain intensity screening in patients with OSA particularly in those patients who are younger than 60 years old without significant co morbid illness Furthermore we also recommend increased OSA screening for patients with moderatesevere pain intensity and pain diagnoses
The Mayo Clinic defines a number of symptoms to watch for with sleep apnea
Snoring that disturbs your own sleep or a partner spouse or roommate
Waking up from sleep choking or gasping for air
Pausing in sleep your breaths it may look like you are holding your breath
Increasing daytime sleepiness that occurs at work home or in your car
Causes of childhood sleep apnea can vary significantly from the causes of sleep apnea in adults Whereas in adults the main contributing factors of sleep apnea are weight neck circumference and age for children the most common cause is enlarged tonsils andor adenoids
When these tissues are enlarged they can cause breathing difficulties during the day When the child is asleep the muscles in the body relax including those in the throat The relaxation of these muscles allows the tonsils and adenoids to further restrict airflow in the upper respiratory system and cause apnea events during sleep
Childhood obesity can also contribute to sleep apnea in the same way that it does in adults The more fatty tissues in the throat the more likely that breathing can become disrupted during sleep as the extra soft tissue can more readily restrict airflow
However obesity is only believed to be a factor for sleep apnea among older children 12 18 years old and not younger children
Talk to your doctor about the STOP Bang questionnaire if you are under 60 and are experiencing any chronic pain either physical or emotional These could be contributing factors towards a restless sleep that needs a sleep clinics intervention to determine next steps Call Alaska Sleep Clinic today
907 770 9104
